Federal judge prohibits school vote on graduation prayers in Texas

AUSTIN — A federal judge has prohibited the Round Rock school district from allowing students to vote on whether to have prayers at graduation.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks is included in an agreement reached Thursday by the school district and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The Washington-based group sued the school district in August on behalf of six parents and a former student.

The suit was prompted when a majority of seniors at McNeil, Round Rock and Stony Point high schools decided to have prayers at their graduations. Most students who cast ballots at Westwood High School voted against an invocation at their commencement.

In its petition, Americans United said prayers at a school-sponsored event violated "the boundary between church and state that is necessary in a pluralistic society."

Sparks' judgment forbids the school district from holding any election or vote by students to have a prayer, benediction, invocation "or other religious communication" in any graduation unless the U.S. Supreme Court rules in future cases that such votes can be held.

Sparks dismissed the suit against the school district.

Round Rock Superintendent Jesus Chavez said Friday he was pleased to have the matter settled and that school trustees already had decided before the case was heard to eliminate student votes on holding invocations at commencements.

This from the Austin American-Statesman.